Yangjae Flower Market is one of the biggest agricultural markets in South Korea. Here you can find thousands of species of trees, flowers, cacti, and other plants. Itโs the ideal place to visit for gardening aficionados!
My First Trip to Yangjae Flower Market
I have these two little maple trees that I brought back from Naejangsan Park in Jellanam-do (Jellanam Province) when my husband and I went on a weekend trip to Buka-myeon and Juknokwon. That was a little over a year ago, and my saplings are still alive and growing.
Last winter, in order to keep them warm, I brought them inside the house. However, this winter, they are a little too big. Plus, I worry about lighting, since my home doesnโt have great access to natural light.
Iโve lived near Namsan park for the past four years. Around November, I noticed that many trees, especially the smaller ones with thin trunks like maples and alders, have been wrapped in a type of straw in parks near my home. I decided that I was going to do the same for my little babies this winter. So, on the advice of a Korean friend, I took my first trip to Yangjae Flower Market.
Yangjae Flower Market
Yangjae Flower market is located in Seocho-gu (Seocho district). It opened in 1991, as an actual flower market, but over time it expanded into a foliage market of all types of plants and flowers.
You can find trees, shrubs, herbs, botanicals, succulents, indoor or outdoor plants, along with all the tools you need to get your garden thriving. The market is huge, in fact, it is the largest in South Korea. But, luckily, with the help of a man who was selling hanging plants and succulents, along with my husbandโs translations, I was able to find the straw mats, but I also found a lot, a lot more.ย
Orchids Galore
We entered from the main entrance on Gangnam road, and we walked into the first greenhouse on the left.
This warehouse glasshouse was filled from floor to ceiling with orchids. Beautiful orchids of so many shades and hues. I couldnโt even begin to count them all. Many of the orchids were from Thailand and Vietnam.ย
So Many Succulents
I saw succulents and cacti that I have never seen before in my life. Incredible, gorgeous creations from nature with alien shapes, budding flowers, and fuzzy furry-looking blossoms. I wanted to touch everything.
It took enormous willpower to hold back my eager hands. The plants varied greatly in price depending on the rarity and the potting design of the plant. One cactus was being sold for 500,000 won. It was stunning, but way over our budget, especially for something that I might kill in a few months. I wouldnโt be surprised if some were more expensive than that, like the tall cacti with the fur coats. The only thing I think that is more amazing than seeing these desert beauties at Yangjae Flower Market would be to see them in their natural habitats.ย
Outdoor Plants and Gardening Equipment
At the South entrance off of Yangjae road is where you can find the outdoor, garden, and landscaping plants. In an area called the Woods Market, you can find many types of trees like deciduous and conifers, flowering fruit trees, and large bonsai.
Close to the Woods Market was an area with shrubs, grasses and feathery reeds. Next to the outdoor flower mart was a materials warehouse or supply store. This was filled with all the gardening tools and small equipment you could want along with pots, and watering systems, and the straw mats I needed to keep my little maples warm through the winter.ย
Our Bountiful Booty
I donโt know how many hours we spent there. However, my husband who reluctantly joined me on this adventure was also swept up in the Market.ย He was spontaneously designing the tiny dirt mound next to our apartment. โWe should get that, and this, and that too.โ
We left with the straw mats and a lot more. We picked up a couple of vibrant red leafy bushes, and a mini fir, along with three hanging succulents that we bought from the vendor who had helped us find the garden supplies. He was so helpful in telling me how to care for my new houseplants and gave us his card if we had any questions about the plants.ย
Christmas Flowers
Right now is a good time to visit if you want to decorate your home with flowers for the Christmas season.
There is an abundance of crimson poinsettias, bromeliads, begonias, and anthuriums which are the perfect flowers for the season. You canโt go wrong with poinsettias at Christmas. If you have a talent for making wreaths, you can get all the materials you need here.ย
All that You Can Find
There are two giant greenhouses with tropical and exotic flowers and plants; succulents; orchids; and plants I donโt know the names of. You can find two garden material supply stores, two Wood (tree) markets, a warehouse devoted to wholesale flower materials for flower designs, and an underground flower market where you have your choice of sellers ready to design your bouquets or a giant flower display for a grand opening. Lastly, there is the auction hall where the flower bigwigs shout numbers for the best deals.
Some Advice Before Going
Optimal Timing
We were told by some friends that the market is busy in the morning. This may be because of the auction building where retail shops come to buy wholesale plants and flowers. We went on a Saturday. In an attempt to avoid the crowds, we went later and arrived around 1:00 PM. It wasnโt crowded at all. Keep in mind it is late fall, and I imagine spring might be more crowded throughout the day, but at 1:00 PM on a Saturday in November, it was nice. We had plenty of room and time to explore the multiple greenhouses that were filled with plants and flowers. However, donโt come too late in the evening as they close at 7:00 PM, and they are closed on Sundays.
Haggling & Pricing
We were told to be ready to haggle. We didnโt have an opportunity to haggle as the things we purchased had a set price, and inside when we bought the hanging plants we didnโt have other vendors running up to us to offer a cheaper price. However, the morning crowd may be more competitive with bargaining. Honestly, the plants were not more expensive than what Iโve seen at your local plant shop or Emart. Most likely those retailers are coming here to buy plants at a wholesale price, then sell them to you at their retail price.
The pricing seems to depend on the amount of work put into the presentation of the plant, the rarity and difficulty in cultivating, and can depend on the sellerl. Many stalls carry the same plants, so if you want to try and bargain, why not? Iโm not sure how far English will go, but if you speak Korean, you can try to work your magic.
Come Plan in Hand
Lastly, it may be a good idea to come with a plan. If youโre coming just to look then wander freely about and take in all the wonder and beauty, but if you want to buy it can be a little overwhelming, and if you are anything like we were, your little jaunt to the Yangjae Flower Market may turn into an odyssey.
Donโt be deterred by the fall and winter months. There are hundreds of beautiful plants and flowers to see. I found exactly what I needed to keep my trees warm through the winter, along with some new plants to brighten up our little home. Now, I just need to keep everything alive!
Yangjae Flower Market (์์ฌ๋ํํผ๊ณตํ์ฅ)
Address: 27 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul
Korean Address: ์์ธํน๋ณ์ ์์ด๊ตฌ ๊ฐ๋จ๋๋ก 27 ํํผ๊ณตํ์ฅ
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat: 07:00 AM - 07:00 PM
Sundays: Closed
Want to learn a little bit more about flowers in South Korea? Click Here to learn about spring mountain blooms!
